Electric-circuit controller.



H. D. JAMES.

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1908.

Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

AT'TGRNEY H. D. JAMES. ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.10, 1908.

947,336. Patnted @11.25.1910.

A 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 60 b/ y Eig ./Z

- ATTRNE H. D. JAMES.

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT GONTRGLLER. APPLICATION IILIID A-PR-10, 190s.

947,336. Patented Ja11.25,1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

wlINIssEs Yso 'HENRY n. JAMES, or rimessione, PEN

lbers both of which are electrically connected U'Nifrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MENTS, TO WESTINGI-IOUSE ELECTRIC NSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, iBY MESNE ASSIGN- @t MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF EAET PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC-CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

Application filed April 10,

To all whom it may Concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY D. JAMES, al citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of IPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric- ,lircuit Controllers, of which the following ls a specification.

Myinvention relates to electric circuit controllers and it has s ecial reference to such controllers as are acljapted to effect the starting of alternating current electric mo.-A tors in connection with auto-transformers or other means tor reducing the lvoltage initially applied tothe motor windings.

The object ot' my invention is to provide Specication of Letters Patent.

a devicev of the class-above indicated that shall be simple and durable in construction and adapted for the control of relatively low-voltage circuits that are traversed by very larve electric currents.

In or er to effect the aforesaid objective results and to provide other improvements, as hereinafter pointed out, I have employed a. switching device that comprises, in general, two groups of movable contact. memby Hexible shunts to a group of stationary contact terminals and a simule operating handle lever which may be moved in one direction or the other from its off position to effect the engagement, of one `group of movable members, `with a coperating group of stationary contact members.

In order to enable the controller to carry ver large electric currents continuously Without over-heating, the group of movable members which effect circuit connections for motor running comprise wedge shaped bridging contact members that are closed last when the controller is moved to its motor-run ning position and are opened iirst when it is returned to its olf position and which are so arranged as to rovide low-resistance shunt circuits to the tiexble conductors connectirig the motor-running group of movlable `members to the stationary group of contact terminals.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is aside' elevation, partially in section, of a controller `'constructed'in accordance with 1 my inventiomli ig. 2 is a front elevation of Y the device shown inv Fig. 1, certain ot' the parts being. broken away to disclose more l Patented Jan. 25, i910. 1908. Serial No. 426,341.l

fully the contact members, and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View showing the circuit connections of a motor control system embod ingmy improved starting switch. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,11, and l2 are detail views ot' the operation levers and theI contact members of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, the device here illustrated comprises a metal frame 1, which may be supported substantially in a horizontal vplane by means of projecting ears 2, a plurality of stationary contact members comprising groups 3, t, and 5, a plurality of movable contact members comprising groups 6 and 7, overload release magnets 8 and 9, an operating handle lever 10 and a suitable gear mechanism. l1 by which the action of the handle lever may be transmitted to the groups of movable contact members.

The bracket or casting 1 is provided with pairs of parallel bearing projections l2, 13, 14. and 15 and a plurality of holes 16 to receive substantially cylindrical screw threaded terminal rods 1T with which the stationary contact members are provided. The terminal rods 17 are insulated from the plate 1 by means of bushings 18 and wasliers 19 and are firmly secured thereto by means of set nuts 20, the lower extremities of the contact members being enlarged to support laminated contact terminals and to provide engaging surfaces which coperatev with the movable contact members, as hereinafter pointed out. The group 3 of stationary contact members comprises a plurality ot members a, Z1, c, and (l, arranged substantially in a straight line, each having a body member 21, with a horizontal plane bottom surface to which contact blocks 22 are 'secured -by means of screws 23. The group 6 ot movable contact members is composed of a plurality of substantially cylindrical contact blocks 24 which are divided into sets of four that respectively coperate with the stationary contact blocks 22 of the members a, Y), c, and d and are resiliently supported between horizontal cross strips or plates 25 and 26.V The plates or cross strips 25 and 26 are supported by a pair ot'insulating strips 27' and 28 arranged in parallel and vertical planes between which the Contact blocks 24 are disposed. The resilient con nection between the contact blocks 24 and. the supporting frame, which iscomposed of theparts 25, 26, 2t, and Q3, is effected by means of springs 29 that are coiled about shanks 30 of the blocks and are interposed between their bodies and the cross strips Q6. rEhe movement of the blocks is limited by nuts 31 which are screwed upon the lower ends of the shanks after they are thrust through suitable holes in the plate Q6.

The group 4 of stationary Contact members comprises a pluralityof members e, f, g, and /L having arms 32 that are provided with lateral projections 33 to which laminated contact members 34 are secured, said arms being connected to the ends of the shanks 30 by means of flexible conductors 35 which are Secured to the ends of the arms by bolts 36 and to the Shanks by the nuts 31.

rl`he group 5 of stationary contact members comprises a plurality of members z', j, is, and which are similar to those of the group 3 except that they are provided with lateral projections 37 to which laminated Contact members 3S, corresponding to the members 34, are secured.

The group 7 of movable contact members comprises a horizontal rod or bar 39 of insulating material to which are secured wedge-shaped bridging contact members 4U that engage beveled surfaces 41 of the laminated contact members 34 and 38. Plates 42 are aflixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the horizontal rod 39 and project laterally over one side to support a set of arc-breaking contact members 43 which are similar to the contact members 24 and are adapted to make and break the circuits nally estab- 1'shed through bridging contact member 40 and the laminated contact members 34 and 38, when the controller is in its motor-running position. The laminated contact inembers comprise a plurality of plates or strips of copper or other conducting 'material which are slightly separated from each other by relatively short spacing strips 44 so that the contact end of each strip is permitted a slight independent adjustment. The arcbreaking Contact members 43 are connected to the arms 32 by flexible conductors 45 which are of suflicient length to provide for an adequate movement of the group 7.

The overload release magnets 8 and 9 are of a well known type and comprise stationary core members 4G and movable core members 47 which are influenced by magnet windings 4S and an adjusting lever 50 whichis pivotally supported upon a stationary shaft 51/a'nd is adapted to effect a simultaneous adjustment of the air gap which is provided between the stationary and movable core members. l

rlhe gear mechanism 11 comprises a pair of toggle levers 52 and 53 which are pivoted on a stationary shaft 54, an actuating lever 55, a pair of short links 56 and 57 which are joined together and are connected at one end to theprojection 15, a second pair of short lmksS and 59 which are similarly disposed relative to the projection 14, links 60 and 6l which connect the free ends of the two pairs of short links to the projections 12 and 13 and links 62 and 63 which connectthe ends of the toggle levers and 53 to the junction points of the short links. The points of connection between the links 60 and 61 and the short links 57 and 59 are respectively joined to the groups 6 and 7 of movable contact members by means of rods 64 and 65. The toggle levers 52 and 53 are provided with. projections 66 and'67 having radial surfaces 68 which extend in relatively opposite directions from their axes of rotation and substantially in alinement with the arms of theV levers. The lever 53 is further provided with a projection 69 which limits its movement in one direl ion, as hereinafter'pointed out, and the arms of both levers are bifurcated to receive the ends'of the links 62 and 63.

The actuating lever 55 is provided with lateral projections 70 and 71 having radial surfaces 72 that engage the surfaces 63y on the toggle levers, the arrangement of the parts being such that when the actuating lever is rotated through a relatively short angle in one direction, the toggle lever 53 will be rotated without imparting any movement to the toggle lever 52 and when the actuating lever is rotated in the opposite direction the toggle lever 52 will be rotated independently of the toggle lever 53. The handle lever 10 is also pivotally mounted on the shaft 54 and comprises a pair of parallel strips 73 which are separated by spacing blocks 74 so that the actuating lever 55 may extend into the space between them. lThe actuating lever and the handle lever are operatively connected together by means of a latch 75 which is connected to a tripping lever7 6 by means of a link 77 and'which is normally held in engagement with the extremity of the actuating lever by means of a spring 78. When the handle lever is raised to move the group 6 of movable contact members into engagement with its cooperating stationary members, no means are provided for locking the controller and it is, therefore, necessary for an attendant to manually hold the switch in this, its motorstarting, position. When the motor has accelerated, the switch may be moved from the olf position, which it assumes, when released, by reason of the action of gravity on the movable contact members, and from thence to the running position in which a projection 79 on the handle lever is engaged by a latch 80.

lVhen the controller occupies the'runnmg position, projections S1 of the tripping lever 76 are in the line of action of the hammer rods 82 of the release magnets 8 and 9 and,

`end of the push 4 from the latch K ot' the engagement of the vthrough a' similar angle in the opposite s of \`tensi on which will I through conductors 86, 87, 88, and 89, the

pies its ofi, position m, it it is now moved to its motor starting positiony, whichmay ibe accomplished by raising the operating ,l handle lever as hcicinbet'ore described, cirl cuit connections will be established as when the controller occupies its other posij tions, the projections 81 are carried out of i this line so that the overload release magnet may be suitably designed for protecting the motor circuits under normal operating conditions without interfering with the application of relatively large current values durs ing the starting -period. If it is desired to j nected across the circuit Sti-*87, through release the controller from its running posi` j a conductor 92, contact members c and g, tion, pressure may be applied to the outer l which are now joined electrically by a movpin 83 which extends Ir able contact member and the shunts 85, and slightly beyond the outer end of the handle l a conductor 93 to a terminal 9a ot the motor, Aever and the inner end of which may engage the latch 80 and release it from j Til@ l through conductor the projecand push pin is normally freed by means of a spring 84.

The operation of the device, with special from an intermediate point of a transformer reference to the gear mechanism 11, is as 98, which is connected across the circuit follows: Assuming that the controller occu- 88-89, so that a relatively low-voltage polypies its oil posit-ion, as illustrated in the l phase electric current is supplied to the drawings, it will be observed that the short motor for starting. links 56 and 57, and and 59 form acute j It will be observed that the overload reangles with each other so that the groups lease' magnet windings 48 are omitted from 6 and 7 of movable contact members occupy the starting circuits, in accordance with the their positions of maximum separation from usual practice. If the control switch is now the stationary contact members. Links 60 moved to occupy position e circuits will be and 61 serve to guide the upper ends of the i established from the' line conductors 87 and toggles formedzby the links by connecting j 88 through conductors 99 and 100, magnet them to the stationary projections 12 and windings 9 and 8, contact members and It' the handle lever is now moved up- /c-g and conductors 93 and 101 to the mowardly the Atoggle lever 52 is rotatively tor terminals 9st and 102, the two circuits moved in a clockwise direction by reason being completed from motor terminals.95 surface 72 on the and 108 through conductors 96 and 104, con projection 71 of the operating lever with the tact members .L and Z, and e and and c011- suriace 68 on the projection 66 of the toggle ductors 97 and 105 to line conductors 86 lever. The said rotative movement creates and 89. l a pressure, through the link 63, against the The arrangement of contact members and` vertex of the acute angle formed by the links the circuit connections of the system may, 58 and 59 and causes them to move into the of course, be adapted for startingeithe'r two saine straight line, thereby raising the rod or three-phase motors and it is to be under- 65 and the group 6 of movable contact memstood that various structural modifications bers. This movementtof the operating lever may be eliected in the device illustrated causes a separation between the surface 68 without departing from the spiritand scope on the projection 67 ofthe toggle lever 52 of my invention. but does not cause any movement of this I claiinas my invention: toggle lever. If the handle lever is now re- In a controller, the combination with a stationary frame or bracket, a plurality turned to its off position and rotated of contact members secured thereto and insulated and suspended therefrom, vertical rods .o r bars extending through the frame, and movable contact-bearing members secured to the lower ends of the rods or bars and adapted to be moved vertically into engagement with the stationar t contact members, of means for operating the vertical rods or bars, said means comprising a pair of links forming a toggle joint connection between their outer ends and a stationary pivotal oint, an operating lever and a relatively lbng connecting link inter` posed between the toggle joint and the operating lever. v

2. In a controller, the combination with a stationary frameor bracket, a plurality of main and auxiliary contact members se- 96, contact members l1,

tion 79. d, and conductor 97 to the conductor direction, the toggle lever will be rotated inta counter-clockwise direction and a force will be exerted on the link 62 cause the toggle formed between 'the links 56 and 57 to straighten and the group 7 of movable contact members to be raised.

`The circuit connections for the device, when employed in a system ofcontrol for electric motors, are illustrated in Fig. 3 t0 which special reference may now be had. Alternating current energy is supplied to an electric motor 85, from any suitable source,

control switch 'of my present invention being employed to govern the motor circuits.

Assuming that the control switch occucircuit being con'ipleted from terminal 95 follows: from an intermediate point 96 in a startingtransformer 91, which is con-.

. 86,` A second circuit is similarly established .of yielding contact members,

cured thereto and insulated and suspended therefrom, and vertical rods or bars projecling through the frame, of movable contact-bearing members secured to the lou-er ends of the rods or bars and adapted to be verticallv into engagement with the stationary members, said movable members being p ovitletl with bridging contact members to cooperate with the main stationary contact members, yieldingly supported arc` breaking contact members cooperating with the auxiliary Contact members, and iiexible connections betr/een 'the main stationary contactl members and the movable arc-brealt ing contact members.

3. ln a controller for electric circuits, the combination -v-itli three groups of main sta tionary cont-aci members, one composed of rigid and the other tivo of yielding contact members, a group of rigid auxiliary contact members andv a plurality of Contact arms extending downwardly from one group bearing members, one provided With yielding contacts to coperate with the ri id main contacts and the other provided with rigid contacts for bridging the yielding contact members and yielding contacts for c0- operaling with the rigid auxiliary members, said yielding movable contact members being connected by flexible shunts to said Contact arms.

i. in a controller for electric circuits, the combination with a stationary supporting bracket, three groups of stationary Contact members secured thereto and insulated therefrom, movable contact members co1n-I prising two groups and flexible connections between one of the groups or' stationary members andboth of the groups of movable l l l l l l s of two contact.

members, rods or bars extending through the stationary bracket and adapted to move the movable members into and out of en gagement with the stationary members, of an operating gear mechanism,comprising a pair of short linls secured to the upper ex tremity of each of the rods or bars and pivotally connected to the stationary bracket, an operating lever rotatablysupported from the bracket and connected to the toggle joint connection formed at the juncture of the tivo short links by means of relatively long horizontal connecting links. In a controller for electric circuits, the combination with a plurality of stationary contact members comprising three groups, movable contact members comprising tivo groups and flexible connections between one of the groups of stationary members and both of the groups of movable members, of means for short-circuiting the flexible connection of one of the groups of momble members. t

' 6. ln a controller for electric circuits, the combination with a plurality of stationary contact members, a group of movable motor-starting Contact members, and a group of movable motor-running contact members, of flexible conductors connecting the mov able members with a plurality of stationary terminals, and means for short-circuiting the flexible conductors of the movable motor-running contact members.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of March,

A HENRY D. JAMES. VVit-nesses R. J. DEARBORN,

BIRNEY HINES.

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